Our directors Eleonora and Sheri share a similar passion for working with children, young people and their parents. When it came time to discuss what this joint venture might look like, they were readily in agreement that supporting parents would feature prominently.
Having spent many years working within both the public and private sectors, Eleonora and Sheri have an excellent understanding of the challenges parents face when seeking out psychological services. They seek to provide a dedicated family-focused service and welcome feedback about further services that are of interest to families.
Co-Director Dr Cattini
Dr Eleonora A Cattini BA, BAppSci (Disability Studies) (Honours), DPsych (Clinical child, adolescent, and family)
Eleonora holds a doctorate in clinical child, adolescent and family psychology from La Trobe University following undergraduate degrees at Monash and Deakin Universities. She has over 20 years of combined university training and clinical experience. Eleonora's career spans across the public and private sector, and tertiary education. She was employed at a hospital-based Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service which allowed the opportunity to work with children and adolescents experiencing more severe mental health challenges. In her final year she was the principal clinical psychologist in the service. Private practice in a number of locations across Melbourne permitted Eleonora to develop sound experience and knowledge of the differing needs of those who seek private services. Eleonora has also had the opportunity to work within schools delivering cognitive assessments for children with learning difficulties and suspected intellectual disabilities. Eleonora has extensive experience in providing clinical supervision to clinical psychology training clinics, having been employed across two major universities. Eleonora continues to lecture and train in a clinical psychology masters program (in the area of clinical child and family psychology) and assist in overseeing the university training clinic. Eleonora has particular expertise in cognitive assessment work for diagnosing learning disorders, such as dyslexia, and providing useful reports to support children who are experiencing difficulties. She has a strong interest in supporting parents using emotion coaching, an evidence-based approach which improves parent and child connections while developing emotion regulation skills.
Having spent many years working within both the public and private sectors, Eleonora and Sheri have an excellent understanding of the challenges parents face when seeking out psychological services. They seek to provide a dedicated family-focused service and welcome feedback about further services that are of interest to families.
Co-Director Dr Cattini
Dr Eleonora A Cattini BA, BAppSci (Disability Studies) (Honours), DPsych (Clinical child, adolescent, and family)
Eleonora holds a doctorate in clinical child, adolescent and family psychology from La Trobe University following undergraduate degrees at Monash and Deakin Universities. She has over 20 years of combined university training and clinical experience. Eleonora's career spans across the public and private sector, and tertiary education. She was employed at a hospital-based Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service which allowed the opportunity to work with children and adolescents experiencing more severe mental health challenges. In her final year she was the principal clinical psychologist in the service. Private practice in a number of locations across Melbourne permitted Eleonora to develop sound experience and knowledge of the differing needs of those who seek private services. Eleonora has also had the opportunity to work within schools delivering cognitive assessments for children with learning difficulties and suspected intellectual disabilities. Eleonora has extensive experience in providing clinical supervision to clinical psychology training clinics, having been employed across two major universities. Eleonora continues to lecture and train in a clinical psychology masters program (in the area of clinical child and family psychology) and assist in overseeing the university training clinic. Eleonora has particular expertise in cognitive assessment work for diagnosing learning disorders, such as dyslexia, and providing useful reports to support children who are experiencing difficulties. She has a strong interest in supporting parents using emotion coaching, an evidence-based approach which improves parent and child connections while developing emotion regulation skills.
Co - Director Dr Todd
Dr Sheri Todd BA, BA (Honours), DPsych (Clinical - Child Specialisation)
Sheri holds a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (Child Specialisation) from Melbourne University. She has been employed within the mental health sector since 2004 and has expertise in assessing and treating clients from a systemic and developmental framework. She has worked within a variety of organisations including the Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) Psychology Department and Consultation Liaison Service, the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI), and the Austin Hospital Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS). In addition, Sheri has worked successfully in private practice since 2007. In her role as a senior clinician at the Austin Hospital, she was responsible for assessment and treatment of complex mental health issues, and was involved in training students, providing consultation to external government and community agencies, delivering in-service diagnostic training, and running group programs. She has also worked closely with schools, delivering training to staff in the detection of and response to mental health issues as well as assisting with support and case planning around individual children.
Dr Sheri Todd BA, BA (Honours), DPsych (Clinical - Child Specialisation)
Sheri holds a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (Child Specialisation) from Melbourne University. She has been employed within the mental health sector since 2004 and has expertise in assessing and treating clients from a systemic and developmental framework. She has worked within a variety of organisations including the Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) Psychology Department and Consultation Liaison Service, the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI), and the Austin Hospital Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS). In addition, Sheri has worked successfully in private practice since 2007. In her role as a senior clinician at the Austin Hospital, she was responsible for assessment and treatment of complex mental health issues, and was involved in training students, providing consultation to external government and community agencies, delivering in-service diagnostic training, and running group programs. She has also worked closely with schools, delivering training to staff in the detection of and response to mental health issues as well as assisting with support and case planning around individual children.
Dr Madeleine Valibhoy BA (Honours Psych), DipCA, DPsych (Clinical)
Madeleine completed a Doctorate of (Clinical) Psychology with a child, adolescent and family psychology specialisation at Monash University, following her undergraduate studies at the University of Melbourne. She has been fully registered as a Clinical Psychologist since 2009. Madeleine worked for several years at Foundation House (NGO for refugees), assisting children, young people and families with a range of psychological difficulties. She has also worked as a Clinical Psychologist for a school-based service, providing psychological services for children, parents and teachers. Alongside working with clients, Madeleine has worked as a researcher for several years (focusing on child and youth research, trauma, human rights and culture) and as a tutor and lecturer. She teaches postgraduate counselling/psychology students at Monash University. Madeleine has worked at the Family Psychology Centre since 2015. Here Madeleine works with people experiencing a broad range of emotional and behavioural difficulties, and depending on the concerns, she draws upon and integrates multiple therapeutic techniques to be of assistance. Madeleine aims to build a strong therapeutic alliance with those are seeking help in order to work together towards understanding their situation and creating greater wellbeing.
Dr Daniella Ventieri BSci (Hons Psych) DPsych (Clinical)
Daniella completed a Doctorate of (Clinical) Psychology specialising in child, adolescent and family psychology at Monash University. She has been fully registered as a Clinical Psychologist since 2009. She has worked primarily in the public sector with infants, children, adolescents, and youth with significant mental health difficulties, developmental, and behavioural issues. Daniella has special interests in neurodevelopmental disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorders and ADHD, anxiety, depression, and self-esteem. Daniella has worked in a range of clinical settings, including Monash Health Early in Life Mental Health Service, Eastern Health Child and Youth Mental Health Service (formely CAMHS), Wantirna Health, Angliss hospital and private practice. In addition to currently working in private practice, she works on the Endeavour Neurodevelopmental Psychiatry team at Monash Children’s Hospital (ELMHS), working with children with complex neurodevelopmental issues and co-occurring mental health issues. Daniella has also held a number of research roles at Monash University, Spectrum - Personality Disorder Service and currently as a part of her role on the Endeavour team at Monash Children’s Hospital. Daniella is also experienced in conducting cognitive, academic and personality assessments. Daniella is dedicated to working collaboratively and creatively with the young person and the system around them to help achieve the best possible outcomes for her clients.
